A Breathe of Fresh (And Chilly) Air in Kissos Mountain Village in Pelion, Greece.

August 12, 2015

I am no city girl. I am not impressed by skyscrapers in fact, I find it incredibly boring. What piques my interest the most are villages and towns built centuries ago. It always keeps me wondering as to how they were able to build the houses, the roads and other infrastructures back then when they didn’t have the modern technology that we now have. I have a specific fascination to cobblestone streets with centuries-old houses and buildings around it. It gives me some sort of peace and calmness whenever I am in such a place.

When The Greek Mister told me that we’re going to Pelion as a part of our 3-week holiday in Greece, I researched about it and was overjoyed when I found out that the place is dotted with centuries-old mountain villages. I initially wanted to go to Makrynitsa however being in the mountain – it’s quite hard to go from one place to another without having to spend at least 45 minutes of driving. So he suggested Kissos instead, the nearest mountain village from Agios Ioannis where we were staying.

After spending half a day in Plaka beach, we drove up to Kissos which took us about only 15 minutes. As we got out of the car, a fresh and chilly air from the mountain welcomed us. All I wanted to do at the time was to breathe and breathe again. Having lived in the Middle East for almost a decade, I’ve been breathing A/C regulated air most of the time so the fresh air from Kissos was a welcome change for my lungs. :p

Kissos means ivy which is quite evident as to why it was named as such since you can see this plant wrapped in tall trees surrounding the village. It’s a popular destination during winter with its ski area but during summer, it’s a destination people visit to find a break from the busier seaside villages. There’s a special kind of peacefulness this place gives you – it’s probably the tall trees surrounding you, the sound of the birds chirping above you (a sound which I haven’t heard for a very long time) or the low sound of chatter from the people dining at the tavernas dotted around the square. I just wanted to sit in the middle of it all and embrace this newfound calmness.

We decided to have our dinner at a taverna called Klimataria with an outdoor seating area overlooking the dense forest below you. We had Kokoras Krasatos, a rooster cooked in wine and Arnaki Lemonato, a lamb in lemon sauce. Both are finger-licking, lip-smacking, belly-rubbing good!

After a very hearty meal, we wanted to walk around some more but the chilly air was becoming more unbearable so we decided to go back to the seaside area where it will be warmer. It was a good and much-needed break that one must include if you’re in Pelion for a holiday. Kissos takes all your city-induced stress away and would make you feel rejuvenated even after only a few hours of being there.

I’ve never heard of Kissos but it looks like such a charming town! I love the cobblestone streets – it looks so picturesque! Your meal looks pretty delicious too. If I ever get to visit Greece, I’d love to check this village out!Bryna recently posted…St. Bavo Church, Haarlem

This place looks amazing! I think I’m in the middle of an obsession with Greece but photos of places like this just prove to me why it is growing higher on my must visit list! Great post 🙂Sally recently posted…Experiencing New Zealand: Queenstown